Life after paralysis: Neuralink opens up new possibilities for humanity with brain implants
Neuralink, a company founded by Elon Musk, has made a breakthrough by successfully implanting a brain interface into a human. Since 2016, the team has been working on developing technologies that could change the lives of people with serious disabilities. In January of this year, they implanted the implant into a human brain for the first time, and a month later the patient not only fully recovered, but was able to control a computer mouse using only his thoughts.
This historic event was presented to the public through a demonstration on the X platform, where 29-year-old Nolan Arbaugh became Neuralink’s first open patient. After a tragic accident that resulted in paralysis from the neck down, Arbo was given a chance for a new life thanks to a brain implant.
– Neuralink (@neuralink) March 20, 2024
“A lot of what we started with was trying to move,” Arbo says. “I was trying to move, say, my right hand left, forward, backward. And then, I think, it became intuitive to me that I could imagine the cursor moving.”
According to him, the implant allowed him to play chess and Civilization VI. He noted that he used to use other assistive devices such as chewing sticks, but the Neuralink implant allowed him to play longer gaming sessions and also surf the Internet. He said he can work for about eight hours before the implant needs to be recharged
His ability to control the cursor on a laptop screen, play chess and Civilization VI, and perform other actions using only his thoughts demonstrates the potential of technology to change people’s lives.
Previously, Neuralink conducted tests on animals, including chimpanzees, which caused some controversy and federal investigations. However, successes in working with humans open up new horizons for medicine and technology, despite the ethical and technical challenges the team faces.
